Highly sensitive and ultrafast response surface acoustic wave humidity sensor based on electrospun polyaniline/poly(vinyl butyral) nanofibers

Polyaniline (PANi) composite nanofibers were deposited on surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator with a central frequency of 433 MHz to construct humidity sensors. Electrospun nanofibers of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinylidene fluoride), poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and humidity response of corresponding SAW humidity sensors were investigated. The results indicated that PVB was suitable as a matrix to form nanofibers with PANi by electrospinning (ES). Electrospun PANi/PVB nanofibers exhibited a core–sheath structure as revealed by transmittance electron microscopy. Effects of ES collection time on humidity response of SAW sensor based on PANi/PVB nanofibers were examined at room temperature. The composite nanofiber sensor exhibited very high sensitivity of ∼75 kHz/%RH from 20 to 90%RH, ultrafast response (1 s and 2 s for humidification and desiccation, respectively) and good sensing linearity. Furthermore, the sensor could detect humidity as low as 0.5%RH, suggesting its potentials for low humidity detection. Attempts were done to explain the attractive humidity sensing performance of the sensor by considering conductivity, hydrophilicity, viscoelasticity and morphology of the polymer composite nanofibers.     

复阻抗法分析聚吡咯材料的湿敏特性

通过延长聚合时间到96 h合成了一种对湿度敏感的聚吡咯材料. 采用红外(IR)光谱, X射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)的方法对合成的材料进行了表征. 测量了基于该材料的湿敏元件的湿度特性, 并且得到了在20 Hz-100 kHz频率范围内的复阻抗谱图. 基于测量结果讨论了该材料制备的湿敏元件的湿度敏感机制. 通过对复阻抗谱的分析研究了该湿敏元件的工作机理并且分析了参与导电的粒子.     

掺盐MEBA-co-KH570共聚物的湿敏性能

采用甲基丙烯酸二甲氨基乙酯的溴代丁烷季铵盐和硅烷偶联剂KH570的共聚物作为感湿聚合物,并向该聚合物中掺杂LiCl、CaCl2、FeCl33种不同的盐类,制备了高分子电阻型湿敏元件,系统研究了聚合物浓度、无机盐的种类和浓度对元件湿敏性能的影响。结果表明,在33%～95%RH湿度范围内,元件显示出较高的灵敏度(b为-0.043 8～-0.038 8)和较好的线性(R为-0.994 8～-0.981 6),且阻抗随聚合物浓度的增加而下降,但响应变慢;掺杂LiCl和CaCl2可使元件阻抗变小,掺杂FeCl3却使元件阻抗增大;在1×10-2mol/L的最佳LiCl掺杂浓度下,元件具有最好的灵敏度(b=-0.044 6)和最短的脱湿时间(20 s)。     

A Novel Thin Film Resistive Humidity Sensor Based on Soluble Conjugated Polymer:(propionic acid)-co-(propargyl alcohol)

In recent years, humidity sensors have found wide applications in industrial and agricultural production, process control, household electric appliances, etc., therefore the research on humidity sensitive materials has attracted more and more attentions, and many polymers, including polymer electrolytes, conjugated polymers have been investigated as sensing materials1-3. However the doped conjugated polymers in general were insoluble and can not be used to prepare thin film humidity sensors, wh…     

Evaluation of co-polyaniline nanocomposite thin films as humidity sensor

Spin coated films of Co-Polyaniline nanocomposite are evaluated for their transmission properties using He-Ne laser for humidity sensing. The thickness (17-29 microm) of the films is varied by multiple deposition of Co-Polyaniline nanocomposite on a glass substrate. The samples exhibit typically two to three regions in their sensitivity curve when tested in the relative humidity (RH) range of 20-95%. The sensitivity ranges from 0.1 mV/%RH to 12.26 mV/%RH for lower to higher thickness. The sensors show quick response of 8s (20-95%RH), and a recovery time of 1 min (95-20%RH) with good repeatability, reproducibility and low hysteresis effect. The sensitivity of the sensor increases with humidity and thickness. Material characterization is done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR).     

A resistive-type humidity sensor using composite films prepared from poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate) and dispersed organic silicon sol

A composite material of dispersed organic silicon sol and poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate) (poly-AMPS) was used to make humidity sensor without protective film or complicated chemical procedures. The organic silicon sol was dispersed well in the poly-AMPS without using dispersion agent. Parameters that may affect the water-resistive but humidity-sensitive characteristic of composite material, the adding amount of organic silicon sol solution and the film of thermal treatment time, were investigated. The microstructure of the material was analyzed, and the humidity sensing and electrical properties of the sensor were measured. The sensor well responded to humidity with a relatively good linearity, though it depended on the applied frequency. The temperature influence between 15 and 35 °C was within −0.17 % relative humidity (RH)/°C in the range of 30–90% RH. The activation energy was maximum around 40% RH. The sensor showed the hysteresis within 5.9%, fast response time, long-term stability (75 days at least) and satisfactory resistance to high humidity atmosphere (97% RH) and chemical environment (20% C₂H₅OH vapor). Analyzing the structure and complex impedance plots of organic silicon sol/poly-AMPS was used to explain improvement in humidity sensing properties in comparison with nano-sized SiO₂ powder/poly-AMPS films.     

Lab Scale Study on Humidity Sensing and D.C. Conductivity of Polypyrrole/Strontium Arsenate (Sr<Subscript>3</Subscript>(AsO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>) Ceramic Composites

In-situ polymerization of pyrrole was carried out with strontium arsenate (ceramics) in the existence of oxidizing agent ammonium persulphate to synthesize polypyrrole/strontium arsenate composites by chemical oxidation method. The polypyrrole/strontium arsenate composites were synthesized with various compositions viz., 10 to 50 wt % of strontium arsenate was placed in polypyrrole. The surface morphologies of these composites were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) which confirmed the embedment of strontium arsenate particles in PPy chain. The Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectra (FTIR) revealed the shift of lengthens frequencies towards elevated frequency area. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) disclosed the crystalline behavior exhibition of the composites. Thermographs of thermal analysis (TG/DTA) exposed the stronger stability of polypyrrole/strontium arsenate composites than PPy. D.C. conductivity reveals that, the strontium arsenate concentration in polypyrrole is accountable for the variant of conductivity of the composites. The results of the study signify the increment of D.C. conductivity for 40 wt % of strontium arsenate in polypyrrole. The temperature reliant conductivity dimension shows the thermally activated exponential behavior of PPy/Sr₃(AsO₄)₂ composites. The reduction in electrical resistance was experienced, when the polymer composites were bare to the wide range of relative humidity (Rh) (from 30 to 95%). This reduce is due to enhance in surface electrical conductivity ensuing from humidity fascination and also due to capillary abridgment of water causing change in conductivity within the sensing materials. The composite shows sensitivity in the range 30 to 95% Rh, we also studied response and recovery time.     

Preparation and characterization of humidity sensor based on poly(3-alkyl)pyrrole containing phosphonic acid groups

Poly(3-alkyl)pyrroles containing phosphonic acid groups with different alkyl segment lengths were chemical synthesized and the properties were measured by FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. FTIR and UV-Vis results showed that the synthesized polymers were in a low doping level through chemical polymerization. By spin-coating on the surface of substrates, the polymer can be used as a humidity sensor. The change of DC electric current of the polypyrroles varies with the chain length of the alkyl substituents. The capacitance increases with the increase of the humidity and resistance decreases with the increase of humidity. This result is different from that of polypyrrole without alkyl substituents due to the influence of the phosphonic acid group. The sensor showed the resistive-type at high relative humidity, and the capacitivetype at the low relative humidity. The sensor exhibited very fast response to the change of environment humidity.     

氧化石墨烯/聚吡咯插层复合材料的制备和电化学电容性能

以FeCl₃-甲基橙(MO)为模板, 通过化学原位聚合法成功制备出氧化石墨烯/聚吡咯(GO/PPy)插层复合材料. 采用X射线衍射(XRD)、傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱、扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)等测试技术对复合材料进行物性表征. 此外, 利用循环伏安、恒电流充放电和交流阻抗测试方法对复合材料在两种不同水系电解液(1 mol·L^-1 Na₂SO₄和1 mol·L^-1 H₂SO₄)中的电化学性能进行了研究. 结果显示: 氧化石墨烯和聚吡咯表现出各自优势并发挥协同作用, 使得GO/PPy插层复合材料在中性和酸性电解液中都显示出可观的比电容. 电流密度为0.5 A·g^-1时, GO/PPy 插层复合材料在Na₂SO₄和H₂SO₄电解液中的比电容分别为449.1 和619.0 F·g^-1, 明显高于纯PPy的比电容. 经过800 次循环稳定性测试后, 两种不同电解液中, 复合材料初始容量的保持率分别为92%和62%. 其中酸性电解液体系中初始容量更大, 而中性溶液中具有更稳定的循环性能.     

Crystallinity and fluorine substitution effects on the proton conductivity of porous hydroxyapatites

Porous calcium hydroxyapatite (p-HAp) was prepared by wet chemical methods. The poorly crystalline structure and the high surface specific area (235 m²/g) of this hydroxyapatite have effects on the variation of the electrical properties. Good linearity of logarithm of conductivity versus the relative humidity in the range from 19% to 88% (RH) was observed using the complex impedance spectroscopy. The proton conduction was affected by the relative humidity related to H₂O adsorption on the material surfaces. The fluorine substitution in p-HAp also modifies the crystalline and the proton conduction properties.     

Polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex for protein immobilization

The redox polymerization of pyrrole, with ferric chloride as oxidant, carried out in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), yielded polypyrrole latex particles. The polypyrrole latex was used, as seed, for the radical polymerization of acrolein. The resulting polypyrrole core/polyacrolein shell latex (poly(P/A)) was suitable for immobilization of up to 11 mg of human serum albumin (HSA) and/or 33 mg of human gamma globulin (G) per 1 g of latex particles.The work was supported by the KBN Grant 2 0624 91 01     

Polypyrrole/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) thermosensitive and electrically conductive composite microgels

The electrically conductive polypyrrole/dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) (PPy/DBSA/poly(NIPAAm‐co‐AA)) composite microgels were synthesized by a chemical oxidation of pyrrole in the presence of DBSA as the primary dopant, and poly(NIPAAm‐co‐AA) microgels as the polymeric codopant and template, in which APS was used as the oxidant. It was proposed to prepare “intelligent” polymer microgel particles containing both thermosensitive and electrically conducting properties. The polymerization of pyrrole took place directly inside the microgel networks, leading to formation of composite microgels and the morphology was observed by transmission electron microscope. PPy particles interacted strongly with microgels, as the acid groups of microgels acted as the polymeric codopant. The composite microgels thus formed showed electrically conducting behavior dependent on humidity and temperature. At temperatures lower than lower critical solution temperature, the conductivity decreased with increasing the humidity and a small hysteresis phenomenon was observed. The hysteresis became indistinct when temperature was near volume phase transition temperature. However, after the treatment of high temperature and high humidity, the conductivity increased surprisingly due to the structure reorganization inside the composite microgels. The distinctive functionality of the PPy composite microgels was expected to be utilized in many attractive applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1648–1659, 2006     

ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDIES ON CONDUCTING COMPOSITE FILMS FROM POLYURETHANE AND POLYPYRROLE

A study on the electrooxidative polymerization of pyrrole onto polyurethane-coated platinum electrodes and the electrochemical properties of the composite polyurethane/polypyrrole films (PU/PPy) as-prepared is presented. It is found that polypyrrole grows layer by layer from the polyurethane/platinum interface through the polyurethane matrix, and ca. 20 wt.% of polypyrrole will fill up the matrix. Cyclic voltemmograms show that the composite films are porous, and the reduction-reoxidation (redox) rate of the composite films is limited by the diffusion of counteranions through the films. Larger anion size leads to slower diffusion process. The composite films can also act as modified electrodes.     

Humidity sensors using in situ synthesized sodium polystyrenesulfonate/ZnO nanocomposites

Thin film humidity sensors have been prepared using in situ synthesized inorganic/organic nanocomposites of sodium polystyrenesulfonate (NaPSS) and ZnO. Its humidity sensing characteristics and the sensing mechanism have been investigated by measuring the complex impedance spectra of the sensor at different humidities. The logarithm of the impedance of sensor based on composite film changes linearly by four-orders of magnitude over almost whole humidity range (11-97% RH). Furthermore, the sensor exhibits a quick response (absorption: 2 s, desorption: 2 s) and small hysteresis (less than 2% RH). The composite film shows better sensing properties than NaPSS film, such as better linearity, quicker response. Explanation to the improvement is attempted by taking into account of the composition and structure of the nanocomposites.     

Preparation of a Conducting Flexible Material from Silane Coupling Agent and Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene Rubber by Hydrolysis and Condensation

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of a flexible polymer produced from silane coupling agent (SCA) and hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) were performed. Mechanical properties of chemically and electrochemically prepared conducting composites synthesized from this polymer were investigated. Conductivities of the composites were also measured. Polypyrrole enhanced the mechanical properties of the chemically prepared conducting composite. Doping with iodine greatly changed the conductivity of the composite. However, the change in mechanical properties and the conductivities of the electrochemically prepared composite were not as significant when compared with the electrochemically prepared polypyrrole. Among the composites, a chemically prepared composite was highly flexible like rubber. However, the electrochemically produced composite possesses two orders of magnitude higher conductivity. Also, this composite revealed higher tensile strength and elasticity with respect to pristine polypyrrole.     

Exploring fiber optic approach to sense humid environment over nano-crystalline zinc oxide film

A novel humidity sensor made up of nano-crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) film, coated onto the U-shaped typical glass substrate as a wave guide, conjugated with an optical fiber and He-Ne un-polarized laser source. The nano-crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) was synthesized using single molecular precursor method. The resulting material was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the thin film, ZnO particles exhibited the wurtzite phase structure with the particle size in a diameter range of 70-80 nm. The humidity sensing characteristic has been estimated by measuring the optical permeability (OP) as a function of percentage relative humidity (%RH) in the ranging from 5 to 90 inside a closed chamber. The OP decreases linearly with increase in %RH with a respond time of about 30 and recovery time of 35 s. The sensor exhibits the sensitivity of 0.45 in the %RH range 5-50 and 0.30 from 50 to 90.     

以硅藻土为硅源合成NaA分子筛及其质子传导性能研究

以硅藻土为硅源, 在Na₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂(硅藻土)-H₂O体系中, 采用水浴加热搅拌的方法在较低温度下快速合成了LTA型硅铝分子筛NaA. 通过调节温度和反应物的活性, 优化了NaA分子筛的合成过程, 实现了其在较短时间、 较低温度下的快速合成. 所合成的NaA分子筛展现出良好的质子传导性能, 在室温和100%相对湿度条件下, 其质子传导率为1.72×10^-3 S/cm, 且随着温度的升高其质子传导率逐渐增大, 在80 ℃和100%相对湿度条件下, 质子传导率可以达到5.96×10^-3 S/cm.     

Synthesis and characterization of new electroactive polypyrrole-chondroitin sulphate A substrates

Novel composite polypyrrole/chondroitin-4-sulphate films with cation-exchange properties were synthesized by the electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of chondroitin-4-sulphate (CSA) sodium salt, acting as dopant anion at neutral pH. The negatively charged biomolecule was found to be permanently entrapped in the polypyrrole (PPy) membrane which resulted, as expected, facilitated in the mass transport by mobile cationic counterions. The porous nature of the substrates was identified as the most influential factor controlling the morphology. The morphology, in turn, affects the interaction between the material surface and the tissues on a cellular level. In this work in vitro analyses of human fibroblast response to polypyrrole/chondroitin-4-sulphate films were performed to focus on the different steps of cell reactions towards defined surface properties.     

预辐照接枝丙烯酸、苯乙烯磺酸钠对聚全氟乙丙烯膜性能的影响

采用常温下γ射线预辐照引发接枝的方法,在聚全氟乙丙烯(FEP)上接枝了丙烯酸(AA)和对苯乙烯磺酸钠(SSS),制备了一种含羧酸基团和磺酸基团的接枝膜.傅立叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)分析证明了磺酸基团和羧酸基团的成功引入.采用XRD、TGA和接触角研究了接枝率对FEP膜的结晶度、热学特性及亲水性等性能的影响.结果表明,随着制备的FEP膜接枝率的增加,膜的结晶度、热稳定性和接触角逐渐减小;与此相反,FEP膜的亲水性能随接枝率的增加而增加.接枝膜湿敏性能测定结果表明,在相对湿度从5%RH变化到98%RH时,接枝膜电阻线性变化范围接近3个数量级,具有响应速度快(吸附<1min,解吸<2min),湿滞小(<3%RH)的特点,具有应用于电阻型湿度传感器的广阔前景.     

Electrochemical formation of cation-exchanging polypyrrole films within various hydrophilic–hydrophobic domains

The electrochemical polymerization technique has been successfully applied to produce conducting polymer film of controlled ion exchange properties. Polypyrrole films were prepared by electro-oxidative polymerization with doping some alkylsulfonates or Nafion. The ion exchange characteristics across polypyrrole films were examined by means of a novel electrochemical technique, namely, the in situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) method. According to EQCM measurements, exchanging ion species was found to be successfully controlled by changing the hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance of the incorporated sulfonated-based dopants. The film's characteristics became anion- to cation-exchanging as the dopants became more hydrophobic in nature. The polypyrrole–Nafion(poly(perfluoroethylene sulfonate)) composite film became to be a complete cation exchanger.